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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Oral health

Compendium of Rural Oral Health Best Practices - 2020
Highlights examples of the best practices in rural oral healthcare across the country. Presents a number of models regarding workforce development and training, integration of care, telehealth, clinical care, and policy.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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An Analysis of Utah's Emergency Department Non-traumatic Dental Visits 2007-2017
Report explores the non-traumatic oral healthcare visits handled by emergency departments in Utah from 2007 to 2017. Looks at data by rural and urban hospital location, diagnosis, and payers, among other measures.
Author(s): Michelle Martin, Michelle Silver, Brittney Okada, et al.
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: Utah Department of Health and Human Services
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Oral Health Status of Low-Income Children in Pennsylvania: A Rural-Urban Comparison
Describes research examining the oral health component of the Medical Assistance (MA) program for Pennsylvania children, additional oral health programs and services, the supply and distribution of Pennsylvania dentists, and the overall oral healthcare delivery system for low-income children in rural Pennsylvania. Features statistics including the number of general dentists and specialists who were active MA providers as of 2017, with breakdowns by urban or rural location, and a county-level map showing low-income Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas by rural status as of 2018.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Lisa Davis, Kelly Braun, Myron R. Schwartz
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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More Than a Smile: An Examination of Rural Dental Health Care in Nebraska
Explores the link between oral and total health, and identifies primary barriers to dental healthcare in rural Nebraska and efforts to increase access. Includes county-level maps of Nebraska and the United States, showing Dental Health Professional Shortages Areas as of 2019.
Author(s): Lauren Taylor, Jordan Rasmussen
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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The Use of Telehealth in School-Based Health Centers
Describes the growth in number and location of the telehealth model of care in traditional school-based health centers (SBHCs), and highlights how telehealth complements the care given by onsite providers. Examines the characteristics of SBHCs' use of the telehealth model including SBHCs who exclusively use telehealth, and the characteristics of provider types, medical sponsorship, and schools and students with access to SBHCs. Discusses the implications of the exclusive use of telehealth services, and how traditional health services are expanding due to the use of telehealth.
Author(s): Hayley Love, Nirmita Panchal, John Schlitt, et al.
Citation: Global Pediatric Health, 6
Date: 10/2019
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Greater Good Podcasts Rural Health Segment, Part 1: How Did We Get Here? Rural Health Challenges in America
Set of three podcast episodes featuring Erika Ziller and Yvonne Jonk of the Maine Rural Health Research Center discussing current rural health issues and challenges, as well as historical factors related to the current rural health system. Addresses rural aging and long-term care, dental care, health insurance coverage, and health-related impacts of growing up in a rural community. Also compares rural health in Maine, other parts of the U.S., and rural communities in other countries.
Additional links: Part 2: Growing Up Rural, Part 3: Rural Health in Maine and America vs. the World
Author(s): Carrie Wilshusen, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center
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Wisconsin Number of Providers Needed to Remove Shortage Designation: Dental Health
Shows the number of providers needed to remove the Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation for each county in the state of Wisconsin.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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2019 Medicaid and Commercial Access to Care Index: How Payer Type Influences Coloradans' Access to Needed Health Care
Provides information on healthcare access through both Medicaid and private insurers, as well as several other factors to determine whether the health needs of Colorado residents are being met. Measures improvement in healthcare access based on three components of access: potential access, barriers to care, and realized access. Features data breakdown by county.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Health Institute
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Integrating Oral and General Health Through Health Literacy Practices: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summary of panel discussions held December 6, 2018 in Washington, D.C. by the Roundtable on Health Literacy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Topics include health literacy, care integration, interventions for children, and development of a research agenda. Chapter 6 includes a discussion of provision of oral health services in urban versus rural settings.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Addressing Rural Seniors' Unmet Needs For Oral Health Care
Highlights a study on barriers to oral healthcare for rural seniors. Discusses the poor health outcomes seniors face when they lack access to oral healthcare. Details barriers such as cost, lack of insurance coverage, and provider shortages, among others.
Author(s): Cheryl Fish-Parcham, Melissa Burroughs, Eric P. Tranby, Avery R. Brow
Citation: Health Affairs Blog
Date: 05/2019
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